Donald Shared Classified Intel With Russia (UPDATED 2X)

The word from WaPo is that Donald shared, with Russia, a foreign partner's intelligence so sensitive, not even our other allies knew about it. He's playing Establishment Republicans and the far-right for fools, destroying the Republic before our eyes, under their willingness to let him get away with anything.

Why?

Tax cuts, Gorsuch, and the repeal of the ACA -- that's it.

Normally, it is called Treason. Republicans, instead, look the other way and call it a Nothingburger.

The information that was shared was related to the Islamic State. There is one source whose information is so sensitive that US does not automatically share it with others: Israel.

It's being labeled as accidental, but it's perfectly following the script of the Obama Administration's worst fears. Before the Obama Administration departed, Israel's Ynet (via the Telegraph) broke the story:

"The Israelis who attended the meeting said that the Americans advised them not to expose any sensitive sources to members of the Trump administration, lest that information reach Iranian hands, until it becomes clear that Trump does not have a compromised relationship with Russia and is not vulnerable to extortion."

Even the most forgiving reading suggests that Donald has loose lips (that sink ships). He cannot be trusted. And neither can Republicans be trusted to maintain the Republic.

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UPDATE: Rex Tillerson, Dina Powell and H.R. McMaster all sent or read out statements using matching language in a categorical denial, tarnishing themselves in the process.

• "The story that came out tonight as reported is false." -- never actually identifies Washington Post's story as "this story"; this is a common misdirection used by people who are professionals at white lies. If you weren't trying to lie, you would instead say, "The Washington Post story that came out tonight is false."
• "The president and the foreign minister reviewed common threats from terrorist organizations to include threats to aviation" -- essentially confirming WaPo's story on the subject matter.
• "At no time were any intelligence sources or methods discussed and no military operations were disclosed that were not already known publicly" -- denies things that were never actually asserted in the WaPo report.
• "Two other senior officials who were present, including the secretary of the state, remember the meeting the same way and have said so" -- is not a denial of the WaPo report.
• "Going on the record should outweigh the anonymous sources" is something everyone says but has little to do with the veracity of the stories; I suggest reporters challenge these folks to place themselves in real legal jeopardy and go on the record with Congress, under oath to testify about what happened. If they refuse to testify or otherwise offer up obfuscated and obtuse answers, you know why.
• "I was in the room. It didn’t happen" -- is ambiguous as we don't know what "it" is referring to.

You don't need a law degree, you just need to carefully parse the particular word choices people use. That all three used very similar statements and language is a strong tell. That H.R. McMaster read from a written statement is another tell.

Attempting to defend the indefensible actions of a careless and stupid man is dangerous. Each misstep Donald takes now comes with personal liability to his defenders.

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UPDATE 2: Confirmed, it was Israel. Bibi will undoubtedly minimize the damage, even if Donald's actions result in Israel's source being killed -- Bibi and Donald share a special relationship that rises above national interests for both Israel and US.

Coming up, Donald's European Vacation. What could go wrong?!?